Lawyers face constant pressure to uphold their reputation, but integrity is the real key to lasting success
“Reputation is all you have,” the assistant dean said to us on the first day of law school. From that moment on, I became consumed with proving my worth, measuring every action against how others might perceive me.
Being hypervigilant about managing my reputation was exhausting. I experienced anxiety like I never had before. Mistakes felt catastrophic, not because of their actual consequences, but because of how they might be perceived. The pressure was relentless. I spiralled into chronic anxiety and, eventually, clinical depression.
This fixation on reputation isn’t unique to my experience. It is woven into the fabric of the legal profession, where reputation is often held up as the ultimate marker of success. This relentless focus on external validation – winning cases, impressing colleagues and clients, and maintaining a flawless image of competence and control – has left many lawyers anxious, unfulfilled, and disconnected from their deeper purpose.
The impact is undeniable. Over 50 percent of lawyers report feeling burnt out, a direct consequence of a profession that often prioritizes performance, prestige, and perception over autonomy and well-being.
There is a better way. Authentic leadership, grounded in integrity, self-awareness, and character rather than external validation, offers a more sustainable path toward greater fulfillment and well-being in law.
Why focus on authentic leadership rather than authenticity alone? All lawyers, regardless of title or seniority, are leaders in some capacity because the legal profession exists to serve and guide others and to protect and improve society and individual lives. Leadership is not a title but a responsibility that lawyers carry in every interaction.
Authentic leadership is a style that emphasizes self-awareness, transparency, and genuine interactions with others. It involves leading in a manner that is true to our values and beliefs. At its core, authentic leadership is about leading with integrity. When we do this, we naturally build trust with those we serve and interact with.
Tania Tetlow, president of Fordham University and a lawyer, succinctly captures the essence of authentic leadership: "[Y]ou must be authentic. The myth of perfectionism is just silliness… To be a good leader, you need to be aware of your own flaws, have the ability to listen hard and take in information in all sorts of ways, and then be able to sit with it and give decisions the time they need while checking your gut and your values."
These words show how authentic leadership is more than about our intellect. This leadership style requires various skills grounded in emotional intelligence: self-awareness, empathy, mindfulness, and active listening. These “soft skills” are not typically emphasized in lawyer training but are crucial to serving our purpose as leaders.
The concept of True North, as described by Bill George, is essential here. It represents an internal compass developed through deep self-examination and clarity about personal beliefs and values. As George puts it: “You need to decide who you are as a human being. What do you want out of life?”
These questions may sound simple, but for many lawyers, operating from personal authority rather than external frameworks can feel foreign. The legal profession requires lawyers to rely on precedent, logic, and established standards of reasonableness – often at the expense of personal introspection.
Lawyers who lack this internal guide risk being steered by external validation, such as status, approval, and prestige. Over time, this can lead us away from the reasons we entered the profession in the first place, resulting in dissatisfaction and unhappiness in our careers and lives.
Reflecting on and defining one’s True North also helps lawyers navigate tough decisions with conviction. When actions are driven by integrity rather than perception, setbacks become easier to recover from as they don’t change who we are. Ethical dilemmas become clearer. And the constant anxiety over reputation loses its grip.
The legal profession has often equated success with reputation. But reputation is not leadership, and perfection is not strength. Authentic leadership offers a different path grounded in integrity, resilience, and personal values.
The profession is already undergoing a meaningful shift. The recently published book The Right Not to Remain Silent: The Truth About Mental Health in The Legal Profession exemplifies this tide of change. Through deeply personal memoirs, lawyers and judges share their struggles with mental health, demonstrating courage and vulnerability. Their willingness to speak candidly to serve others is a testament to authentic leadership.
Success in law should not be measured by reputation alone but by the integrity with which we lead. The profession does not need more lawyers fixated on reputation. It requires leaders – lawyers who act with courage, clarity, and an unwavering commitment to the values that brought them into law in the first place.
